Bad Yeast?

I fear I may have trashed my latest batch last night! When I opened my White Labs California Ale liquid yeast it smelled very bad. Unfortunately, I always open it right over my primary fermentation bucket because it sprays after shaking it, so it all went into the beer before I realized how bad the smell was. I'm guessing the yeast was bad? Are my worst fears true? Is my batch ruined or can I pitch fresh yeast?

Help!

 

Even good yeast are capable of some bad odours - sulfer comes to mind. What is your beer doing today? If it is starting to ferment I'd leave it alone.

 

I highly doubt a vial of yeast was bad. Yeast are stinky little buggers. Let it go I think you will have good beer!

 

17 hours after pitching and no bubbles in the airlock, however I'm sure "a watched primary never ferments"!
I'll take a deep breath and tap a homebrew. It's in god's hands now!

 

I've only use [SIZE=-1]WLP001 once, but it was a long start up time for me. Around 2 days...give it a little time, I'm sure it'll be fine.[/SIZE]

 

I haven't used WL Cali Ale yeast, but I had the same fear with their american hefe yeast.

My fears were unfounded, some yeast is just stinky, don't worry about it.

 

Thank you all! You were correct, I now have active fermentation. I gave this vial of yeast more room temperature time before pitching than I have in the past, maybe that is why it smelled so rank.

Thanks again!